Connector with functional portion projecting from side surface of connector hosing and terminal accommodating chamber in the functional portion

Abstract

A female connector (F) includes a block-like main body ( 11 ) formed with terminal accommodating chambers ( 17 ). Projection-like functional portions ( 16 ) made of synthetic resin project from outer surfaces of the main body ( 11 ) and terminal accommodating chambers ( 17 ) are formed in the projection-like functional portions ( 16 ). Terminal fittings ( 40 ) are accommodated into the terminal accommodating chambers ( 17 ). Spaces constituting the terminal accommodating chambers ( 17 ) are present in the projection-like functional portions ( 16 ). Thus, even if the projection-like functional portions ( 16 ) are enlarged, sinks will not form in the projection-like functional portions ( 16 ) in a molding process.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector, comprising:
 a housing formed from a synthetic resin and having opposite front and rear ends spaced apart along a connecting direction, the housing including:
 a block-like main body extending from the front end to the rear end of the housing; 
 at least one functional portion extending from the front end to the rear end of the housing and defining a projection projecting from an outer surface of the main body in a direction transverse to the connecting direction; and 
 terminal accommodating chambers extending through the housing from the front end to the rear end, one of the terminal accommodating chambers being formed in the functional portion and a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers being formed in the main body. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising terminal fittings accommodated respectively in the terminal accommodating chambers. 
     
     
       3. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the main body has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front end of the main body; and 
 the functional portion is arranged substantially in a central part of a side of the substantially rectangular shape of the main body. 
 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a receptacle configured for accommodating the main body inserted therein along the connecting direction, the receptacle being formed with at least one a groove-like fitting recess disposed and configured for slidably accommodating the functional portion along the connecting direction for guiding the main body into the receptacle along the connecting direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal accommodating chambers in the main body are arranged in a plurality of rows, the functional portion and the terminal accommodating chamber therein are aligned with one of the rows of terminal accommodating chambers in the main body. 
     
     
       6. The connector of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of rows of terminal accommodating chambers include a center row and at least one upper row offset from the center row in a first direction and at least one lower row offset from the center row in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the functional portion and the terminal accommodating chamber therein are aligned with the center row of terminal accommodating chambers in the main body. 
     
     
       7. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one functional portion comprises first and second functional portions disposed respectively on opposite sides of the main body, each of the first and second functional portions being formed with one of the terminal accommodating chambers. 
     
     
       8. The connector of  claim 7 , wherein the terminal accommodating chambers in the main body are arranged in a plurality of rows, the functional portions and the terminal accommodating chambers therein are aligned with one of the rows of terminal accommodating chambers in the main body. 
     
     
       9. The connector of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a receptacle configured for accommodating the housing that is inserted therein along the connecting direction, the receptacle being formed with first and second groove-like fitting recesses disposed and configured for slidably accommodating the respective first and second functional portions along the connecting direction for guiding the housing into the receptacle along the connecting direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the housing has a first width measured parallel to the rows at locations aligned with the functional portions and a second width measured parallel to the rows at locations on the main body offset from the functional portions, the first width being greater than the second width. 
     
     
       11. The connector of  claim 10 , wherein the housing has a first height on the main body measured transverse to the rows and transverse to the connecting direction and a second height on the functional portion measured transverse to the rows and transverse to the connecting direction, the first height being greater than the second height. 
     
     
       12. A connector, comprising:
 a housing formed from a synthetic resin and having opposite front and rear ends spaced apart along a connecting direction, the housing including:
 a block-like main body extending from the front end to the rear end of the housing, the main body having a width extending transverse to the connecting direction and a height extending transverse to the width and transverse to the connecting direction; 
 at least one functional portion extending from the front end to the rear end of the housing and defining a projection projecting from an outer surface of the main body in the width direction, the functional portion having a height measured parallel to the height of the main body, the height of the functional portion being less than the height of the main body; and 
 terminal accommodating chambers extending through the housing from the front end to the rear end, one of the terminal accommodating chambers being formed in the functional portion and a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers being formed in the main body. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The connector of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a receptacle configured for accommodating the housing inserted therein along the connecting direction, the receptacle being formed with at least one a groove-like fitting recess disposed and configured for slidably accommodating the functional portion along the connecting direction for guiding the main body into the receptacle along the connecting direction. 
 
     
     
       14. The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one functional portion comprises first and second functional portions disposed respectively on opposite sides of the main body, each of the first and second functional portions being formed with one of the terminal accommodating chambers. 
     
     
       15. The connector of  claim 14 , wherein the terminal accommodating chambers in the main body are arranged in a plurality of rows, the functional portions and the terminal accommodating chambers therein are aligned with one of the rows of terminal accommodating chambers in the main body.